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Saturday, December 10, 2011

I thought it was about time I blogged about a picture book here on Literary Lunchbox. I love picture books, read them to my kids every day, but I was having a hard time selecting the right book to write about. Today, I found the book. While attending my first regional meeting of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, I met a charismatic local author by the name of Edith Hope Fine. It was her engaging personality that compelled me to pick up her book and read it, but it was the subject matter and beautiful illustrations that lured me into purchasing two copies.

The story is about a clever group of children who plant and tend a garden at their elementary school. They are guided by Miss Marigold, the "gardening lady" at Pepper Lane school. The garden becomes a community event. Neighbors and merchants help the kids create their space, making a garden from what once was a weedy, litter-filled patch of hard dirt.

The book teaches children all kinds of lovely, eco-friendly lessons. There are ladybugs, picnics and worm poop - a winning combination for kids who love the outdoors. There is a section at the end of the book called Sprouting Your Own School Garden with online resources and a gardening checklist.

My children have the good fortune to attend a local charter school in San Diego that uses a constructivist model of teaching. In addition to many other hands ons learning experiences, my kids get to garden at school. They compost, plant, weed, and harvest. It's brilliant!